Does Melania Trump own the super’s unit at Trump Tower?

The woman who has everything also now has an apartment at Trump Tower most commonly designated for staff.

In January, an entity called “721 33H LLC” bought unit 33H at Trump Tower for $1.49 million. The seller, according to a review of property records by The Real Deal, was the building’s condominium board, which typically buys such a unit from the sponsor for use by a live-in superintendent or resident manager, sources said.

Donald Trump’s financial disclosure with the United States Office of Government Ethics in May shows that Melania Trump controls 721 33H LLC, and hence is the most recent owner of unit 33H. The 1,052-square-foot apartment is on the southeast corner of the building and was priced at $581,000 in 1981, the year the offering plan was approved for sale.

The original offering plan states that the superintendent apartments were slated for the 29th floor rather than the 33rd. This may mean that although unit 33H was not originally for staff, it may have served as staff quarters after 1997, when it was acquired by the building’s condo board, then headed by residents Klaus Faber and Gianna Lahainer-Lanieri, for $650,000. There’s a smaller possibility that the unit was purchased for use as an amenity space, such as a library, sources said.

Unit 33H appears to be the only unit the building’s condo board has ever purchased, according to TRD‘s review of property records. It was last listed by Douglas Elliman for $1.49 million. The brokerage’s website mentions the unit is now sold. A representative for Elliman did not provide any additional information by press time.

Donald Trump has owned a number of units in his namesake tower over the years, in addition to his triplex penthouse atop the building. It’s unclear why Melania bought this particular unit.

City housing records show that the current Trump Tower resident manager is Ritchie Ukaj, who became resident manager when ex-con George Gjieli left in 2001, according to a labor lawsuit filed in 2004. (Coincidentally, the AP reported this week on Gjieli’s criminal past as well as his alleged practice of taking kickbacks from lower-ranking employees while employed at the Trump Organization.) A message sent to Ukaj went unreturned.

Floor plans for unit 33H are curiously absent from both the StreetEasy and OLR listing websites. Floor plans for most other units at the tower are available on both websites.